Councilmembers to ask General Assembly to clear up guns-in-parks law

Metro Councilmembers Karen Bennett and Sam Coleman said Tuesday they intend to ask the General Assembly to work the upcoming session on fixing the recently passed guns-in-parks law. The new law allowed permit holders to carry their handguns into public parks, but some confusion has arisen since it became law.

Most notably, a state law already on the books prohibits firearms at school events. Because schools often take fieldtrips to public parks or use park facilities for learning opportunities, it was unclear how that law would impact permit holders who have their guns in a park where a school event is taking place.

The new guns-in-parks law also contained an opt-out clause for local governments. Metro Council opted Nashville out of the law, but Councilman Sam Coleman tried to put rural and isolated parks back in.

Coleman deferred his legislation at Tuesday’s Council meeting, but said he would join Bennett in asking the General Assembly to clear up both issues.

“I think it all needs to be addressed,” Bennett said, who said she supports the guns-in-parks law.

Bennett said she intended to introduce a memorializing resolution requesting the legislature to re-examine the law.